Ginseng May Improve Your Memory

Back in February I read something about Ginseng tablets improving the memories of people with dementia, I just can’t remember where though.

Chinese researchers gave 25 patients a tablet containing an extract from Chinese ginseng roots and panax notoginseng.

Another 15 people with dementia were given Duxil, the brand name for the drugs almitrine and raubasine, which have been shown to increase oxygen to brain tissue and are used to boost the memories in people with vascular dementia.

All were given a series of memory tests at the beginning of the study and after 12 weeks.

The patients in the group taking the ginseng showed a significant increase in their average score on five memory tests, including immediate and delayed story recall, delayed word recall, verbal learning and verbal recognition.

Their total memory score was significantly higher than for the group taking Duxil, but the scores for individual tests showed no significant difference.

Ginseng is a less expensive alternative to Duxil and other pharmaceuticals on the market.

Side effects of too much ginseng include insomnia, dry mouth and constipation. Chinese doctors typically recommend about 3 grams (2 grams of ginseng extract and 1 gram of panax notoginseng) taken in the morning.